NBA

Humphries sees big things ahead in B’klyn

MOVING FORWARD: Kris Humphries, who re-signed with the Nets this week for two years, said yesterday he is excited about the team’s prospects with Deron Williams back in the fold and Joe Johnson on board for the first season in Brooklyn. (CSM /Landov)

The Nets have done a lot of losing since Kris Humphries arrived with the franchise in January 2010. So it comes as little surprise Humphries is looking forward to being a part of what projects to be a playoff team next season in Brooklyn.

“I’m excited to be back,” he said yesterday during a press conference to announce his re-signing with the team at the Nets’ practice facility. “It’s going to be unbelievable, the whole Brooklyn thing.

“I was with the team before we went to Newark. I was with the team when they started talking about [owner Mikhail] Prokhorov taking over and all that stuff … going to Brooklyn, when they broke ground, I’ve been here for the whole process. I’m excited to go in there and play and be a part of it and get it going.”

It has been a tumultuous three weeks for Humphries since free agency began. He was one of several Nets who were involved in trade talks as the team continued its pursuit of Dwight Howard. Once the Nets re-signed Brook Lopez last week, those talks were put on hold, and the team moved to re-sign Humphries, as well, and the two sides eventually came to an agreement on a two-year, $24 million contract.

“I’ve been traded a few times, played eight years going on nine in the NBA, so I’m used to all of the craziness and things that can happen,” Humphries said. “Looking at the process, I was trying to enjoy my offseason a little bit, spending time with friends and family.

“I kind of let my agent do his job basically, and I’m happy with how everything turned out.”

FREE-AGENCY TRACKER

It’s the second time in less than a year Humphries has had to deal with Howard rumors delaying his signing with the Nets. He also was a free agent last winter when the lockout ended, and didn’t sign until late in the preseason after the Nets’ initial attempt to sign Howard failed.

Nevertheless, Humphries said he doesn’t hold anything against the franchise, saying the Nets were simply doing what they had to do.

“It’s the nature of the business,” Humphries said. “I wanted to be back, so I’m glad I’m here, but a lot of things get floated around in the air. Ultimately, it’s [general manager] Billy [King] and [coach Avery Johnson’s] job to put together the best team, so I feel honored to be back and excited about getting together with my new teammates and getting it going.”

Though Humphries is excited about the Nets’ potential this season, he said he also is excited to get another chance to play for Johnson. Johnson’s arrival prior to the 2010-11 season coincided with Humphries getting his first real break in the NBA.

Johnson gave Humphries his first opportunity to be a starter for an extended period during that season, and Humphries finished the season with career highs of 10.0 points and 10.4 rebounds. He improved both of those numbers last year, averaging 13.8 points and 11.0 rebounds, becoming one of five players to average a double-digit points and rebounds each of the past two seasons.

“I think along the way in my journey in the NBA, I’ve learned a lot of things from a lot of different coaches,” he said. “But Avery, he really said, ‘If you do this, you’ll play.’ I said, ‘OK, let me try doing this,’ and I played.

“His system helped me defensively become a better player, and offensively he gave me more opportunity than anyone’s ever given me.”

Now, Humphries is focused on helping the Nets make a playoff run, something that is expected after the team remade the roster, including re-signing Deron Williams and trading for Joe Johnson.

“There’s a lot to put together, but I think when you look at who we have and the coaching staff we have, the management to make the moves we need to make during the season if any need to be made, I think that we’re definitely a playoff team,” Humphries said. “That’s the goal.”